Sure there's gold in the Superstition Mountains

Many believe the Superstition Mountains
are filled with treasures. For more than a century, people — locals and visitors — have ventured into this part of Arizona
looking to find one of the oldest legends: a gold mine.

NADINE
ARROYO RODRIGUEZ: The Superstition Mountains are one of the most visited locations in Arizona. Many come for
majestic views, others come to get rich trying to find the Lost Dutchman’s Gold
Mine. But, did you know …that if you do find a gold mine you’ll never be able
to cash in on it?

Legend
has it that in about the 1870s a German miner named Jacob Waltz found gold in
the Superstition Mountains — recovered some, and then hid
the mine. According to historians like Superstition Mountain Historical
Society’s Gregory Davis, there’s some truth to that legend.

GREGORY DAVIS: He did
exist. And he had gold? He did have gold. That he found in a mine? And he
claimed he found the gold in the Superstitions that had been run by some
Mexican miners.

ARROYO
RODRIGUEZ: Davis
says there’s more than one mine in the Superstitions. He says the Mexican
miners, as well as Spanish settlers, and Native Americans who lived in the
Superstitions, found gold or knew where the ‘golden’ spots were located. Today, he
says, those mines are buried deep within the mountains and practically
impossible to find.

GREGORY DAVIS: You
have to understand how rugged it is and how vast it is. I mean, you’re trying
to find a little shaft that’s been covered a least 6 feet in depth that’s
probably had some rubble and erosion over the top of it over the years.

ARROYO
RODRIGUEZ: And that, Davis says is what has led
to dozens of deaths in the Superstition
Mountains over the years.
Since 1880 records show many have died or disappeared. Some say the mountains are
haunted. Experts say they’re not haunted … they’re enormous.

TIM KRISTOF: That
mountain draws people.

Ranger Tim Kristof (Photo by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez - KJZZ)

ARROYO
RODRIGUEZ: Tim Kristof is an Arizona Park Ranger stationed at Lost Dutchman
State Park near the Superstition Mountains.

KRISTOF: It’s very
visible from the Valley and there’s nothing else like it.

ARROYO
RODRIGUEZ: Its
unique features like the Weaver’s Needle stand at 4,000 feet. It’s highest point
rises to more than six thousand. They’re bobcats, mountain lions, javelinas,
coyotes and black bears roaming the mountains. The 180 miles of trails range
from simple to very rugged. These characteristics have earned the Superstition Mountains the designation of a Protected
Wilderness. No one can dig or build on it.

KRISTOF: Technically you
can’t touch this. What I’ve read if you actually find the mine and told the
federal government they’ll say 'that’s nice.' And you couldn’t do anything about
it.

ARROYO
RODRIGUEZ: Don’t fret, there is gold on the Superstitions: marigolds and Mexican
poppy wildflowers that is. Kristof, says these has become the Superstition Mountains’ golden attraction today.